Designations

• Trumpet makers employ various systems for sizing their bells. The Bach company uses up to 73 different numbers for its B-flat trumpet bells alone, according to the Bach Loyalist website. The Shilke company lists eight sizes in all. In the past the company listed these sizes by the letters A through H, according to the Shilke Loyalist. Today, however, the Shilke website identifies its bell sizes numerically as "tapers." More generally, it categorizes its various trumpet bells as medium, medium large and large.
  
  

Pitch

• Trumpets differ in size somewhat according to their relative pitch, with the sturdy B-flat trumpet offering more bulk than the relatively petite piccolo trumpet used for the highest musical passages. As a result, certain bell sizes naturally correspond to the differing sizes in the trumpet's bore, or the conical diameter of its central tube. Shilke lists its B-flat trumpets as including a #1, #2 or #3 taper, while its piccolo trumpet uses the smallest available size, the #8 taper.
  
  

Sound

• The size of a trumpet's bell has a direct influence on the sound the instrument produces. A player who wishes to make a bright, piercing sound should choose a smaller bell, while a player in search of a more rounded, mellow sound will get better results from a larger bell. The Shilke B1 and B5, for example, both have medium-large bores, but the B5's slightly smaller bell creates a more focused sound while feeling slightly more resistant to the player than the B1. By the same logic, the company's B4 trumpet combines a medium bore with a #3 taper for a penetrating, brilliant sound.
  
  

Other Considerations

• Players choosing a trumpet bell should keep in mind that in addition to bell size, bore width will affect the overall sound of a trumpet. Manufacturers aim for optimal performance in their trumpets by matching the bell size to the bore. Shilke, for instance, tends to pair its #1 taper bell with its larger-bore trumpets for a uniformly dark sound. In some cases, they will recommend alternate bells to suit specific tastes, as in the case of the Kanstul ZKT 1503. Players who wish to make a darker, richer sound on this trumpet can order it with a larger, solid copper bell.